How long do people get unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Thanks! So 26 weeks is pretty much guaranteed if I qualify?

Well, you still have to meet the ongoing requirements - filing your weekly claims, doing job searches, being able and available for work. But yeah, 26 weeks is the standard duration.

Good to know! How many job searches do you need to do each week?

3 per week minimum, but I always did more just to be safe. keep detailed records of everything

Yeah those extensions were a lifesaver during COVID but they're long gone now. Back to the regular 26 weeks max.

So I shouldn't count on anything beyond 26 weeks then?

Correct. Plan for 26 weeks maximum and anything beyond that would be a bonus if Congress passes new legislation, which isn't likely right now.

OMG yes the phone system is impossible. I must have called 200 times before I found Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you - found it at claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved my sanity!

Interesting, never heard of that before. Did it actually work for you?

Yeah totally worked. Got connected to an actual person within a day instead of spending hours on hold. Worth it when you're stressed about your claim.

Good point! Standby status has different rules. That's for people who expect to return to their specific job, usually through a union. Regular unemployment is what most people get when they're permanently laid off or quit for good cause.

I got permanently laid off so I think I need regular unemployment, not standby.

Yeah if you're permanently laid off then regular UI is what you want. Standby is only if you're expecting to be called back to the same job.

Oh wow I didn't know that. I waited a week after my layoff to file - did I mess up?

One week isn't a big deal, but yeah you want to file immediately. Your benefit year is 52 weeks from when you establish your claim, and you can only collect up to 26 weeks of benefits within that year.

There's a waiting week? Ugh, more complications...

Yeah it's basically like a deductible. Your first week is unpaid, then if you qualify, payments start from week 2. It's been that way for years.

Unless you're on standby - then there's no waiting week. Another reason why standby can be better if you qualify for it.

What happens if you find a job before the 26 weeks are up?

Then you stop filing claims and report your return to work to Washington ESD. Any unused weeks don't carry over to a future claim - you'd have to establish a new claim if you become unemployed again.

True, there's a maximum benefit amount for the year, but most people will hit the 26-week limit before they hit the dollar limit. The dollar limit is usually only an issue for very high earners.

My salary was decent but not crazy high, so I probably don't need to worry about hitting a dollar limit.

I get the frustration but those pandemic benefits were emergency measures. The regular system is designed to be temporary support while you find new work, not long-term income replacement.

I know I know, just saying 26 weeks goes by fast when you're trying to find something decent and not just any job.

That's why the job search requirements exist though - to encourage active searching rather than just waiting around.

Good advice! I'll start tracking everything right away.

Yes! And use WorkSourceWA to log your searches too. It's the state's official job search site and having activities there helps show you're complying with requirements.

Several people have mentioned Claimyr now. Is it really that hard to get through to Washington ESD normally?

It's really bad. High call volume, system hangs up on you, hours on hold. Claimyr basically automates the calling process so you don't have to sit there hitting redial all day.

I was skeptical at first but after spending 6 hours one day trying to get through, I tried Claimyr and got connected the next morning. Sometimes you just need to talk to a human to resolve issues.

Perfect summary, thank you! This thread has been super helpful. I feel much more prepared now.

Good luck with your job search! The accounting market is pretty good right now so hopefully you won't need all 26 weeks.

Thanks! I'm optimistic but it's good to know what the safety net looks like.